Thanks for the reply, PB. Folders where copied from the Vista machine and pasted into a new Windows Mail folder on the new machine (the "original" Windows Mail folder on the new machine was renamed so not to conflict). I'll try again using the link you posted.

This could be the cause of the problem.

If I'm reading you correctly, in program files you have got the original Windows Mail folder re-named, and the imported Vista Windows Mail folder.

You don't need to copy any files from Vista. And the original Windows Mail folder in program files of Windows 7 should not be renamed.

In a nutshell all you need to do is download the msoe.dll file in Step 4, and paste it into the existing Windows Mail folder, replacing the original msoe.dll file. However, you should not re-name the original Windows Mail folder, nor should you have imported the Windows Mail folder from program files in Vista.

What I'd suggest is:

1. Delete the imported Vista Windows Mail folder.

2. Rename the original folder back to Windows Mail.

3. Run the steps in the guide from the top.

4. Use the link mentioned in step 6 of the guide to import your email accounts, folders and emails from Vista.

Good luck. PB

Thanks, PB. Followed your advice, unfortunately same issues. I've also discovered that Win Mail is not in the Control Panel Uninstall or Change Program list. Also, not listed when Set Your Default Programs populates. Or, in the Start, All Programs list. Wondering if this points to a registry issue. Appreciate your help, willing to give it another try or two but then I'm ready to move to another email client.

Hi dom10. Sorry you're having this much trouble.

1. It is normal that WinMail is not in Control Panel, Uninstall or Change Program list. The official purpose of the Windows Mail folder in Windows 7 is to enable Windows Live Mail to function. The procedure outlined in this guide basically cannibalises it to enable it to operate as a "normal" WinMail application.

2. Without seeing your PC or knowing exactly what the current status is of installed programs etc, it is hard to diagnose the problem. Therefore the only thing I can really suggest would be to clean it all out, and then ensure it is back to it's original virgin state after installiing Windows 7, without having run "Windows Live Mail".

To achieve this status:

1. Uninstall Windows Live Mail and any associated programs, via: Control Panel --> Programs & Features --> Uninstall.

2. If you are running 64bit Windows 7, you will have two Windows Mail folders; one in the 64bit Program files, and one in the 32bit Program files(x86). Before beginning the steps of the guide you need to have the complete, unaltered original Windows Mail folders in the 64bit & 32bit Program files. And once you start the guide steps, do NOT make any changes in the 32bit Windows Mail folder in Program files(x86); and especially do NOT attempt to run WinMail from this folder.

If you haven't got a virgin copy of each of the original Windows Mail folders, they can be downloaded here. When you open this link, click on the "Free Download". Now wait 60 seconds for it to load, then click on "Free Download" again, and save download to desktop. Extract the folders from the zip file.

3. Delete the entire Windows Mail folders from the 32 & 64bit program files, and replace them with the appropriate 32 & 64bit downloaded copies. Once they are in place, re-name the replacement folders simply as "Windows Mail", (without the inverted commas), by removing the "Win7 32bit" and "Win7 64bit" from the name.

4. Clean out the "Local Folders" folder, using the following steps:

• Show hidden folders by opening any folder and going to: Task Bar --> Organize --> Layout --> Tick: Menu Bar --> Task Bar --> Tools --> Folder Options
  --> View --> Dot: Show hidden file, folders and drives.
  
• Open: Start orb --> User Name --> AppData --> Local --> Microsoft --> Windows Mail --> Local Folders.
  
• Completely delete the entire contents of Local Folders. If this is not done, there is a danger of corruption from existing files.
  
  Note: This will not delete your Inbox, Sent Items, etc from Windows Mail in Program files. And new folders will atuomatically be created in "Local Folders" folder when WinMail is first run.
  

5. Now run the steps of the guide from the top, doing exactly as the steps show, adding nothing in or leaving anything out. Do NOT attempt to run WinMail before completing all the steps down to Step 4, and re-booting the PC.

6. Set up your email account manually.

7. When you first run WinMail it should auto prompt you to set Windows Mail as default mail program. Choose yes, and tick the option not to open this prompt every time Windows Mail starts up.

8. It will also prompt you to create an email account.

Let me know how you get on. Cheers PB

I hope this thread is not too old to ask a question in. I know nothing of Windows Mail, but am looking for a mail program that I can use in Win 7, to use this do I have to join any thing other than just where my e-mail is sent to? and do they have any requirements that I should know of? Hope for some help here.

Thanks

nickc

Windows Mail

Windows 7 does not include an email client even though there is a Windows Mail folder in program files. While this folder is primarily intended for the purpose of enabling Windows Live Mail to operate, it can be modifed to operate as an independent email client.

To activate it, simply follow the steps of the tutorial. You don't have to join anything or provide anything other than the information required by your ISP, (Internet Service Provider), to set up your email accounts.

The other alternative is to download and use Windows Live Mail. You do not have to be registered with Windows Live to use this email program. It can be run as an independet email client like Windows Mail. When you run the program, it has an option to sign in/not sign in if you are a member of Windows LIve. However, by default it is set to not sign in, so you don't have to do anything.

However, if you want to use some of it's special features, such as Photo Email, you will need to register and log on to use this option. You can send photos normally as an attachment without using Photo Email. What photo email does is upload your photos to the Windows Live site, and they send thumbnails of your phtotos in your email to the recipient. The recipient of your email can then choose only the photos they want, and they're downloaded in high resolution. The purpose of this feature is to allow large numbers of photos to be sent without large data upload/download by the ISP of yourself and the receiver; which can often block the email being sent/received by either ISP.

If you choose to use WinLiveMail, there are two links to obtain download engines for either the beta or current versions. I'd suggest using the current version until the beta is stabilized. This is a link to the current version here; and for the beta version here.

Download/Save whichever download engine you choose to your desktop. Then click it to commence the program download. It will next bring up a window with options to download various elements of Windows Live. Deselect all options except Mail, which you leave ticked. Download and run.

It might pay to read up on how to use WinLiveMail. It is similar to Windows Mail, but has a few differences. There main one is that it displays all of your accounts separately in the left pane of the main window of the program. There was a lot of discussion on it in this forum here, which might be worth reading. To view the full thread to which this post applies, click "(Permalink)" towards the top right of the window near the post number #696.

Hope this helps. PB

Thank you, I will try tha WinLiveLiveMail. If I have problems I will be back soon.

Thanks nickc

Windows Mail in Windows 7

Thank you so much for posting this. It works like a charme.....
I took Vista Windows mail 32 bit into win7 64 bit

Shekina

How to reverse?

Hi

I hope this thread is still active, as I need some help reversing the whole win mail thing in win 7.
After installing win 7 I did everything needed to activate win mail from vista, as I still today believe it's best free mail sw (using file system for each mail and doesn't group them). But since I just can't upgrade win 7 to sp1, I just have to surrender and let win mail go. I moved to mail live, I replaced win mail files, but I still can't upgrade. It seems that changes in registry I made have to be reversed as well and that's where I'm stuck. I just can't find anywhere what has to be done in registry, to finally upgrade to sp1.
Thanx in advance.

following with interest

No activity for 6 months ?

Following your quite wonderful, detailed instructions, I now have Win_Mail up and operating on new Win7 PC. Thank you !

But I cannot believe topic is finished. For example how do you convince Win7 that there is such a program ? It doesn't appear anywhere as installed, let alone considered a "default program".

In file associations ".eml" cannot be changed to see "WinMail.exe.
Add & Remove doesn't show it at all ?